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Portugal
14 scams
Portugal has it all – you can rock the beaches in Algarve, marvel at castles in Sintra, hike in the Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela and cruise along the Douro Valley!
However, there are a number of tourist targeted scams as well as petty crime to be wary of.
Note: vast majority of trips are trouble free and there is no need to be paranoid. That said, it always pays to be aware, careful, and prepared.
Emergency number
- Fire, ambulance, police: 112
Travel guide
Petition charity scam in Portugal
7 0How it works: Opening: a scammer pretending to be deaf and mute asks you to sign a petition, filling in your name, email and a donation amount. Set-up: the form…
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Timeshare scam in Portugal
6 0How it works: Opening: someone approaches and gives you a free scratch card where you win a free resort stay! Set-up: to redeem it however, you have to attend a…
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Pickpockets in Portugal
6 3How it works: They work in a gang – one onlooker, one blocks, pushes, distracts, or engages you, one grabs and the final hides the loot under a cover (e.g….
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String bracelet scam in Portugal
5 0How it works: A scammer ties a necklace around your neck or a bracelet that is difficult to untie around your wrist. He then asks for a donation. Places to…
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Fake Santa Justa Lift tickets
3 0How it works: To take the Lift, you need to buy a ticket inside the elevator or use the viva viagem card. There are scammers around here who will try…
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Used ticket scam in Portugal
3 0How it works: There are scammers who collect used tickets from bins and try to pass them off to tourists by selling them at half the price. Places to beware:…
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Fake drugs in Portugal
2 1How it works: Version 1: you may encounter street touts who offer you drugs. Often, these are fakes – they are just rolled up raw laurel leaves. Version 2: fake…
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Unofficial car park attendants in Portugal
2 0How it works: Version 1: as you enter a carpark, someone directs you to a parking lot and then demands a tip for their service, even if the carpark is…
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Snatch thefts in Portugal
2 0How it works: Two versions: strike and run; distract and grab. Possible scenarios: Bike/moped: riding past with a pillion rider doing the snatch. Beach, restaurant: stealing unattended bags/valuables on the…
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Mercado dos Lavradores fruit scams in Portugal
2 0How it works: Scam 1: at Mercado dos Lavradores, some stall vendors inject sweeteners into fruit samples to make you think that their fruits are good. Scam 2: should you…
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Restaurant scams in Portugal
2 0How it works: Situation: Most food places are fine, it’s generally just a few bad eggs around touristy areas that spoil it for the rest. Set-up: Version 1: adding hidden/ridiculous…
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Taxi scams in Portugal
1 1How it works: Situation: drivers in Portugal are actually rather reliable, unfortunately there are some bad eggs which spoil it for the rest. Version 1: not using or “forgetting” to…
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Porto bridge jumping scam in Portugal
1 0How it works: You may see a group of boys getting ready to jump off from the bridge, while another goes around collecting money. Some do jump, while some may…
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Vacation apartment scams in Portugal
1 0How it works: There are fake websites which copy legitimate listings from other sites. A bank transfer/Western Union/MoneyGram transfer is requested, and they then disappear. Places to beware: Anywhere (e.g….
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